Association between imaging-assessed temporomandibular joint findings and TMD-specific quality of life in pain-related temporomandibular disorders: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The association between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structural abnormalities and quality of life (QoL) in patients with pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) remains unclear. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 103 patients evaluated associations between TMJ imaging findings, functional measures, and TMD-specific QoL. RESULTS: Exploratory analyses identified associations of DDwoR and moderate joint effusion with functional QoL. Subchondral cysts showed an exploratory association with poorer functional QoL. An exploratory indirect-association analysis suggested that maximum mouth opening may be involved in the association between structural burden and functional QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Selected TMJ imaging findings showed exploratory associations with the functional domain of TMD-specific QoL.